Shelby Kerns Named Executive Director of the Idaho Rural Partnership

(January 25, 2008) Shelby Kerns – a Potlatch native with extensive experience in agriculture, trade and economic development – was named executive director of the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) on January 2.

“I am honored and excited to be working toward solutions to the challenges facing our local communities,” said Kerns, a former trade specialist with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).

IRP’s mission is to bring diverse public and private resources together in collaborative relationships to strengthen rural communities.

The IRP Board is made up of 32 individuals who work together to improve economic and social conditions in rural Idaho. Board members are selected by the Governor and include representatives from federal, state and local agencies, as well as private business. The board is led by co-chairs Celia Gould, director of the ISDA, and Nancy Bergmann of the Idaho National Laboratory.

“Shelby’s leadership on my team at ISDA on agriculture and international trade issues made her a natural fit for the Idaho Rural Partnership,” Gould said.

“IRP is pleased to have someone who knows and understands rural Idaho on board,” Bergmann said. “Shelby will be a true champion for our rural communities.”